Page 18 of The Disasters of Dating (Love Connections #6)

POPPY

Hey Pisces, randomness is the way of it for you right now. But instead of grumbling about it like others will, embrace whatever fate sends your way. Seize the best from it. If you look at it right, you will breeze along with a smile on your face.

I lift the wooden spoon to my lips as I belt out the lyrics to “ Hold Me Now” by the Thompson Twins.

I do a little dance around the dishwasher before putting the spoon in.

Yeah, it’s a little gross to be putting a dirty spoon that close to my face.

I won’t be doing that again. I sing along to the music in my ear as I finish loading the dishwasher and start it running.

“You seem to be in a good mood,” my mom says as she walks to the fridge and grabs a yogurt.

She shuts the door and leans back against it as she peels off the aluminum top.

Running her tongue over it, she licks off every fleck of yogurt and then flicks the top into the garbage can next to the counter. “What’s on your schedule today?”

I pull my earbud out and lean my hip against the counter, resting the ball of one foot on top of the other. “You want to have a movie night tonight? Or maybe go bowling? We haven’t done that in forever.”

A look passes over my mom’s face—it almost looks like guilt, but I can’t imagine what she has to feel guilty about. She shakes her head and smiles sadly. “Oh, Pops, I’d love to. But I can’t tonight. I totally forgot you had the night off work.”

She forgot? I’ve had Mondays off for over a year. How does one suddenly forget something like that ?

“You have other plans?” I know it sounds slightly accusatory, but my mom hasn’t had ‘plans’ for years.

Not since my dad died. She decided she needed to be home with us kids every night.

When your mom is home every night for twelve years—except for book club, which started two years ago and is apparently multiple times a month now—you kind of get used to it, and it’s weird when she’s not there.

“Yeah, I decided that now that you kids are older and out of the house, I should start developing some hobbies and maybe doing some charitable work.”

I blink at her. Does she think that answered my question?

Her brows pull down. “I’m helping to plan a…

a food drive with…” She pauses and looks to the ceiling like she’s trying to think of a name.

Is she lying to me right now? Because that totally looks like a lie face.

I never believed her when she told me I had one growing up, but now I’m starting to suspect she was right.

“Margo Conway.” She gives me a satisfied look.

“Margo Conway?” I ask. I haven’t heard that name in probably a decade. “I didn’t know you were still in contact with her. It’s been, like, forever since they moved.”

My mom nods. “It’s been twelve years, actually. She moved from the neighborhood just before your father died.” My mom swallows. “She sent a card after the funeral, but I wasn’t in a place then to act on it.”

I nod. Anyone who can’t understand that has never lost someone they love. “How did you reconnect?”

Her brow furrows. “What?”

“How did you guys reconnect?” Why is she acting so weird?

It’s like she’s a teenager and was caught hanging out with the bad boy.

Not Mrs. Conway. Unless Mrs. Conway has changed A LOT from what I remember of her.

I guess it’s possible she’s become a bad girl…

Never mind. I don’t want to go down that path.

“Oh,” my mom says, finally snapping out of whatever weirdness she is lost in. “We bumped into each other at…the…grocery store.”

I smile. “That’s fabulous. I know you guys were pretty close before they moved. I think it’s great that the universe has put you back in each other’s lives after all this time.”

My mom smiles, but it doesn’t quite reach her eyes. I’m sure she doesn’t think the universe had anything to do with it.

I give her a quick hug. It might have been to hide the tears forming in my eyes. They’re only there because I’m happy my mom is moving on with her life. “Then I won’t count on you for hanging out tonight. Does that mean we can on Thursday?” I’m proud that my voice sounds normal.

Her brow furrows again. “Isn’t that usually your night to hang out with Paisleigh?” If I didn’t know better, I’d think that she was trying to avoid hanging out with me. I’m starting to develop a complex.

I shake my head. “She is watching her niece. Her brother and sister-in-law are going on a babymoon before the baby comes.” Paisleigh thinks it’s kind of weird to go on a vacation when you’re that big and pregnant.

But I think it’s a great idea. What better time to have both parents focus and align themselves to not only their new role as parents of two but also to have a special time with the baby before it comes into the world and gets bombarded with sensory overload.

I plan to take babymoons with my husband when I get to that point in my life.

My mom grimaces. “I’m sorry, sweetie. I didn’t realize that was this week, and I’ve already made plans for Thursday night.”

I fold my arms across my chest. I know it closes me off and makes me seem more combative, but I’m kind of feeling a little combative right now.

She’s dogging me twice this week? And she did last week also.

What is going on? Is Mercury in retrograde again?

Mercury and I are obviously not friends.

“Okay, well, I’ve been wanting to clean out my closet.

” I sigh with disinterest. “I guess there’s no time like the present. ”

My mom’s shoulders drop. “Oh, Soda. I’m sorry.” She frowns and then shakes her head. “I’ll cancel my plans. I’m sure Margo can work on it without me this time.”

My phone vibrates, and I grab it from my back pocket.

Maybe it’s one of my cousins asking to do something—a rather unlikely scenario in light of the fact that Lucy, Dani, Sadie, and Chloe are all in relationships.

(Rude) And I’m not seeing Avery and me hanging out together.

I love her, don’t get me wrong. But we don’t have a ‘hanging out’ kind of relationship.

My eyes widen, and a smile spreads slowly across my face. This may be better than my cousins. Maybe. The universe is still thinking about it.

Keaton

Hey, you still interested in grabbing some dinner or something this week?

My mom leans her head toward me, and I put my phone to my chest. “Excuse me? Privacy. Ever heard of it?” She obviously has some secrets she’s keeping from me. I think turnabout is only fair play .

She squints at me. “I wondered what could elicit that kind of smile from you at one glance.”

I lift a brow. “Maybe I’ll tell you…later. You need to go or you’ll be late for work.” I turn on my heel and head toward the back patio, where I can text with Keaton in private. I’m sure Mom is curious about this whole thing, but I admit to liking the proverbial shoe being on the other foot.

“I’ll hold you to that,” my mom calls as I walk out the door, pulling it closed behind me. I climb onto the cushioned wicker love seat and pull my legs up, sitting in a crisscross style.

Sure. Do you want to go tonight?

Keaton

I thought you had plans with your mom tonight?

Nope. They fell through. So I’m free as a bird. For the whole week, actually.

I mean, I was planning to clean out my closet. But I guess I could reschedule that.

My fingers hover over the delete button. Both texts make me seem so lame and uninteresting. Not to mention a little desperate.

Keaton

Cool. My only evening plans this week are binge-watching TV at my hotel. While that is riveting, cleaning your closet sounds like it could have some potential…

You obviously have never seen my closet.

Keaton

Is that an invitation?

Keaton

Sorry. I’ve been trying to work on keeping my creepiness at bay. That one slipped through when I wasn’t looking.

I laugh. That text sounded like Wrong Number Guy. Maybe it’s a guy thing?

I’ll give you one more chance.

And I guess since I’m the one paying for the apology, I should make the plans?

Keaton

I won’t say no to an offer like that. But I’m also good to plan and pay.

No! You already paid for my first attempted apology.

You want to go tonight?

Keaton

When and where?

Where is your hotel and do you have a car?

Keaton

I’m staying in Lehi. I don’t have a car, but I can Uber to wherever you want to meet.

Okay. Let me find a few options. I’ll be in touch?

Keaton

Sounds like a plan.

I grin down at my phone. I shouldn’t be this excited about seeing him.

I mean, the universe gave us a pretty clear sign that we aren’t meant to be together.

And I do have my rules. But it’s been a while since I’ve actually looked forward to a date—not that this is a date.

I mean, I’m just apologizing for nearly having him arrested.

I have NOT changed my rules about dating tourists.

I’m still firm on that. So…it’s a good thing this isn’t a date.